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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City said it is opening Live Blue storefront locations in the area that will offer wellness advice, nutrition and exercise programs and information about health plans. Cerner began a Primary Health Network pilot project with employees at the Hallmark Cards distribution center in Liberty, Mo., that will offer health assessments and help people with diets and exercise plans.

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Coventry, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City will offer health insurance plans on the state's public marketplace, and the Blues will also sell plans on the state's small-business exchange, insurance department officials announced. Anthem and Maine Community Health Options, a nonprofit co-op, will offer plans on Maine's exchange.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana announced the launch of a telehealth initiative that will enable members of its Quality Blue Primary Care plan to use their webcam-equipped computers, Android devices, iPads and iPhones to consult with their physicians. The initiative was developed by the insurer to enhance patient access to care, as well as reduce care costs by better managing chronic diseases.

Employers and health plans will be able to use a new application development program from Jiff to create digital health apps for diet, weight loss and diabetes management. Jiff also has partnered with Towers Watson for an app called Health Outcomes Marketplace that can be used to track health outcomes and incentive plans.

About half of U.S. adults still do not get recommended levels of aerobic exercise, but fitness experts say more people have a better understanding of the benefits of healthy living and are setting fitness goals. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts wellness director Amy O'Neil says company wellness programs that allow employees to design their own exercise plans are one approach to increasing activity levels.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee offers a getBUILT program of weight lifting and cardiovascular exercise for employees at an intermediate or advanced fitness level. It is one of three exercise plans in the insurer's wellness program, which also includes an onsite pharmacy, walking trails, health screening and healthy foods.